Kenya pushes on with ‘coalition of the willing’

Kenya will forge ahead with the so-called “coalition of the willing” because it is allowed in the regional treaty, a Cabinet Secretary has said.

Phyllis Kandie of the East African Affairs said Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda were not leaving out any East African Community member behind but the others would catch up with them.

She spoke on Friday in Nairobi after she launched the second edition of the State of East Africa 2013 report.

Presidents Uhuru Kenyatta, Paul Kagame and Yoweri Museveni recently met under what was later known as the coalition of the willing, to fast-track East African federation. (READ: EAC pledges to tackle ‘cracks’)

“It’s allowed within the treaty. We will continue to move in that direction because it is recognised in the treaty,” Ms Kandie said on Friday.

“We are not leaving other countries behind because they will catch up when they are ready,” she said.

TANZANIA FILES CASE

The Cabinet Secretary’s remarks came days after three Tanzanians filed a case at the East African Court of Justice against Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda and the EAC Secretary-General, accusing them of violating the treaty by holding meetings that sidelined Tanzania and Burundi. (READ: EAC deals illegal, says Tanzania)

Mr Ally Msangi, Mr David Makata and Mr John Adam asked the Arusha-based court to suspend implementation of resolutions reached during the meetings the June, August and October the three Presidents held in Entebbe, Mombasa and Kigali.

Their lawyer, Mr Jimm Ubedi, argued that the meetings violated sections of the treaty that require all member states to be involved in making decisions affecting the integration process.

The three presidents resolved to pursued different development projects across the three countries.